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Queer Fashion | Power Dressing

Queer Fashion | Power dressing in 2014 is all about tailoring and accessorising.

The term ‘power dressing’ or ‘power suits’ conjure up bad images of shoulder pads, oversized and unflattering blazers, and perms. Eww.

Power dressing in 2014 is a bit different. Women’s wear has long taken a turn toward tailoring, and it looks like tailoring is becoming just as important for women’s fashion as it had always been in menswear.

Of course, the number one power-dressing item is and will always be the suit. Pantsuits are now one of the hottest looks in fashion. What’s great about pantsuits is the infinite ways you can style it to make it your own. If you’re in a more creative field like advertising or new media, you can be more adventurous with your pantsuit style. Try wearing a mismatching pantsuit; say a royal blue tuxedo jacket with black high-waist wide leg trousers and an embellished belt.

If you’re in a more corporate work environment, there are various ways to dress up your pantsuit. Don’t limit yourself to all black. Experiment with an all grey pantsuit and add pops of colour via your pumps or a scarf.

As always, fit is important. You may have the right accessories but if you wear an ill-fitting pantsuit, it’s all-downhill from there.

Another important element to power dressing is shirting. Gone are the days when women wore shiny satin button-down shirts underneath their work blazers. Make sure that your button-down shirts are in flattering cuts that cinch at the waits and end right above the hipbone. A shirt that is too long makes you look unpolished.

Cuff and collar details are elements that you should watch out for when picking out work-appropriate blouses. You can even take a cue from menswear and add pocket squares and cuff links to your ensemble.

Although there are lots of style guides (including this one) out there for power dressing, keep in mind that power dressing’s end goal is to make you feel confident and make you look capable. Any item that you wear that doesn’t make you feel that isn’t worth the closet space.

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